Suspensory controlling device for artificial limbs.



PATBNTED JULY 10, 1906.

T. w. KLOPP. v SUSPBNSORY CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

. APPLIOATION FILED 00122 1905.

INVEHTOR. THOMAS W Klep ATTEsT.

TTY.

onrrnn s ragns PATENT orrioia THOMAS IV. KLOIP, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IOTHIC CLEVELAND ARTIFICIAL LIMB (10., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SUSPENSORY CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMES- To ml] whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. KLOPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspensory Controlling Devices for Artificial Limbs; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make .and use the same.

My invention consists in means adapted to suspend and control artificial limbs from the shoulders of the wearer, all substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is -a front view of my new and improved limb suspending and controllin outfit; and Fig. 2

is a rear view thereof, a otted outline of a person being shown in each view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an artificial limb and a portion of the suspensory and actuating means. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of 2 5 a portion of the knee-piece.

Theartificial limb or le members A and B are thus shown as pivota lly connected at a, and upper member B is formed with a socket rounded at its bottom I), and in these particu- 0 lars alone no novelty is claimed. Having an artificial limb'like this or in substantially this'form and style, with upper and lower members jointed together at a point corresponding to the natural knee-joint, as at a, it

3 5 is desirable that the wearer should have as nearly a natural control of the limb as artificial means can provide. To this end I have devised equalizing means which are connected with both members A and B and have 40 their supports and connections over both shoulders and at both front and rear of the person in such construction and relation that a shoulder action can be made effective for control of the limb with the least possible 4 5 visible exertion and with the greatest possible ease. Thus I employ first a single endless cord or cable 2, which runs over small sheaves or other suitable bearings at every point where a turn of thecord is made and is without fixed attachment or connection throughout its length, as shown herein. This affords perfect freedom of action ,or play to said cord and has the further material ad Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 2,

* rammed July 10, 1906.

1905- Serial No. 280,360-

vantage of enablin it to be shifted or moved along at points where greatest strain may come and which avoids wear or breakage.

C and D represent straps in a shoulder-support or harness for carryin and operating the leg. Said straps are of t 1e usual suspender style, crossed and connected at c at the middle of the back, at which point also there is attached a suspcnderstrap 3, which hangs down the back and can be taken up or let out, as suspenders usually are. Each strap C and D passes over the shoulder and then around the side forward to the front of the person, where its end is attached to the front suspender portion of the other strap, thus constituting a harness-support through which the wearer finds it easy and natural to control the limb for locomotion through cord 2. Short adjustable suspendcr-straps 4 are employed in this instance as extensions of the front suspendcr ends of straps C and D, and each carries a sheave 5, over which cord 2 is engaged and adapted to run more or less as one or another movement of the limb is accomplished.

Now as further and auxiliary means essential to the successful operation of the foregoing parts I provide a sheave 6, which is located in the lower calf of-the leg member A on a plane vertically behind pivot a and having cord 2 engaged over the same and run thence upward at a forward inclination in grooves or channels 6 in the knee portion 1) in front ofpivot a, so as to effect such a leverage or purchase on the lower member with oint 7 as a fulcrum as will enable said memher to be promptly thrown to the front when a step is to be taken and even to hold it in such front and straightened position as long as desired, as in a natural leg. Obviously when tension on cord 2 is relaxed the said member is free to swing back, but within natural limits, also as in walking and as hereinafter more clearly seen. In all these movements the stump of the leg exercises its own rightful and helpful functions. An elastic strap a is shown at the rear connecting the two members or sections A and B and adapted more especially -to assist member A in its swing to the rear. From the point 7 at the "front of the knee socket or joint the cord passes upward on slightly-diverging lines over sheaves 5 on the two suspenders-4, from downward and onto sheaves 9 on the outer sides of upper le member B, but with said sheaves 9 on slightly-different elevations in this instance. From these latter sheaves the strandsor portions of the cord converge again and meet over sheave 10 on rear suspender-strap 3 Thus it is seen that as to the shoulder harness or support the cord 2 engages with each front Suspender at a single 0 nt and with suspender 3 at the rear, makmg three distinct points of engagement and no more. there for cord 2 to run over and to avoid the friction and wear that would be unavoidably incurred if mere loops or other fixed hearings were used, and cord 2, so called, may be of any preferred material and size in cross-section. It will benoticed as peculiar to this construction that a single suspensory memher at the middle of the back connects at the juncture of the two straps C and D, so that it will respond to action by either shoulder at a time, or by both, as may be, while at the front each strap C and D has a practically straight connectionof its own down to the fulcrum and through which the cord actuates the lower limb. Of course cord 2 is al ways reasonably, but not uncomfortably or inconveniently, stretched, so that in fact the limb isma-de responsive to the movement of either shoulder alone if it be not convenient to exercise both for its actuation, and at the tion; but greater power'and positive'action most the movement or movements of the 4 shoulder are not necessarily considerable nor really noticeable when the body is in motion.

'By engaging cord 2 over she'avefi at the rear of lower leg member A, I get the equivalent of a mechanical leverage and control of said member which is not exhai'is'ted when the I leg is straightened, as in Fig. 3 but the effect is still ,more positive when the leg is bent backward, as is obvious. Of course I might attach the cord to the leg at this point instead of running over a sheave and largely reserve the equalizing effect of the entire arness; but this is not deemed best. A keeper 12 at thefront and another keeper 13 at the rear confines the cord 2 at the upper end front and rear of leg member B. By reason of cord 2 being endless the pull or strain is equall distributed and there is play here and t ere'in the working of cord 2 which makes it easy for the wearer. .Kee ers of a Sheaves are employed here and and control is given by my improved device as connected to the shoulders;

What I claim is 1. In artificial limbs having .upper, and

lower members, means to support'and operate the lower member comprising a cord having a single point of engagement therewith and opposite engagements with the u per mefnber, and a shoulder-support with w 'ch said cord is operatively connected at two points at the front and at a single point at the rear.

v2. In artificial limbs, upper and lower limb members pivotally connected and barness to be worn over the shoulders, in combi the sides,

harness having straps crossed in the back and the end of one strap crossed with the end of the other-at the front and a single suspensory strap depending from the crossing of said straps at the rear, in combination with an endless limb-controlling cord having'rum' ningIengagement with said suspensory strap at t crossed straps at t e front.

4. In means for carrying and operating ar- I e rear and separately with each of said p tificial limbs from the shoulders, comprising a shoulder-harness'having three suspensory portions, respectively, front and rear, in com ination. with upper and lower leg members and a single equalizing-cord having running engagement withsaid suspensory members and with the lower leg member at its rear below the knee-joint and engaged over the front of said joint, and an elastic strap connecting said leg members at the rear of said joint.

5. ness and the arificial-limb members, with a single cord engaged with the 'lower of said members below the knee-joint and in the rear portion thereof, and the said cord extending through said lower limb member atan inclination from the front andtopthereof and a" bearing for said cord at the'front and lower portion of the upper of said limb members, thereby giving leverage to the cord to control' the lower member.

" In testimony whereof I sign this specificationin the presence of two witnesses. THOMAS W. KLOPP.

Witnesses: H

R. B. Moses, F. P. HAMILTON.

goo

I he combination of the shoulder-har- 

